Anchor for sash balancer



Jan. 10, 1967 J. G. PERRY ANCHOR FOR SASH BALANCER Filed May 21, 1965 INVENTOR. did/5 6. PERRY 147'70/QA/EV Patented Jan. 10, 1967 3,296,652 ANCHOR FGR SASH BALANCER James G. Perry, 12981 Capital Ave., Oak Park, Mich. 48237 Filed May 21, 1965, Ser. No. 457,729 4 Claims. (Cl. 16--197) This invention relates to balancers for removable double hung window sash, and has particular reference to an anchor, or stop for preventing the balancer spring from violently contracting to the top of the window when the weight of a sash is removed therefrom.

This invention is an improvement on the anchor disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,989,773, issued to me June 27, 1961.

In the above identified patent, I disclosed the use of an anchor, or stop, which consists of a body member having a slotted extension, in which is positioned a pivoted arm, with a hook at one end, said arm also having a slot therein, in which slot is positioned the axle of a pair of rollers, which rollers are arranged to provide a wedging action between the said body extension and one wall of a channel member comprising part of the weather stripping for the window.

In practice I have found that the pivots of the said arm and the axle of the said rollers have a tendency to pick up dirt, dust and particles of flock, with which the balancer springs are generally covered in order to silence their action as they move in the metal channels comprising the window weather stripping, with the result that the wedging and locking functions of the previous device are sometimes interfered with, whereby the device is rendered inoperative at the most inopportune times.

It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome the operating difiiculties encountered in the use of my previously disclosed device, and to provide an anchor lock for a balancer spring, which is constructed and arranged with fewer parts, and one which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and efiicient operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which is admirably suited for use with a Vinyl plastic weather strip construction. In this improved assembly the elements may travel and function in the plastic weather strip channels noiselessly and with perfect and consistent anchoring results.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor for a window balancer spring which is made of a unitary stamping, with a hook portion for engaging the balancer spring, and is formed with a shoulder for receiving the weight of a removable window sash, and is also formed with an inclined portion which provides a wedging action for a free acting roller, with means for holding the roller out of wedging action when the weight of the sash rests on the said shoulder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor for a window balancer spring, which is constructed of a single stamping of metal, and is formed with an angular portion to provide a proper wedging action for a normally independent roller.

The foregoing, and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical section, showing the device embodying the invention, with the window sash in position and the anchor mechanism in unlocked condition.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the window sash removed and the anchor mechanism in locked position. FIG. 2 is taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the anchor device removed from the window.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view with parts in section, illustrating how the balancer spring is supported at one end at the top of the weather strip channel.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the roller used in the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed the reference character 7 indicates in general the weather strip assembly, which is mounted to the window frame 8, as in conventional practice. In this embodiment the weather strip is preferably made of plastic. The weather strip assembly 7 is a conventional two-channel weather strip for a double hung sash window, and forms no part of the invention, except as it is combined with the elements hereinafter described.

In the within disclosure only one channel of the weather strip assembly 7 is shown, and only one window sash is illustrated and described. It will be understood, however, that the mechanism for supporting and anchoring the second window sash is constructed and operates in the same manner as herein disclosed.

It will be understood that the weight of the window sash 9 (FIG. 1) is carried on the balancer spring 10, which is mounted in the channel 11 of the weather strip assembly 7. The upper end 12 of the balancer spring 10 is hooked over the upper end 13 of the weather strip assembly 7, and carries the weight. The lower end of the balancer spring 10 is provided with a hook 14, which engages a cut out 15 and a slot 15A which are formed in the inverted V shaped portion 16A of the anchor mem- 'ber 16.

The lower edge 17 of the cut out 15 (FIG. 3) provides a shoulder, or rest, on which is received a bracket 18, which is attached to the side rail of the window sash 9 by means of screws 20, or other suitable means. The bracket 18 is arranged to travel in the slot 7A formed in the weather strip assembly 7.

When the bracket 18 is at rest on the shoulder 17 of the anchor member 16, the weight of the sash causes the member 16 to assume the position shown in FIG. 1. In this condition the roller 21 is held away from the back wall 22 of the weather strip assembly 7 by means of a lip 23, formed on the return extension 24 of the member 16.

In this condition the anchor assembly, including the roller 21, is free to move vertically in the channel 11, as the sash 9 is moved vertically.

'It will be noted that the return extension 24, of the anchor member 16, is angularly positioned with respect to the front portion 16B of the anchor 16 and the back wall 22 of the weather strip assembly 7, and when the weight of the sash 9 is removed from the anchor member 16, as shown in FIG. 2, the member 16 will assume the position shown in FIG. 2, with the portion 16B abutting the front wall 7B of the weather strip 7 and the return extension 24 forming an angle with the back wall 22 of the weather strip 7 and permitting the roller 21 to fall past the lip 23, on to the face of the return extension 24, which causes a wedging action between the member 22 and the extension 24, whereby the member 16 is locked against upward travel and remains in anchored condition until the weight of the sash 9 is again placed on the shoulder 17.

When the weight of the sash, through bracket 18, is again placed on the shoulder 17, and the sash 9 is moved downwardly, the roller 21 moves up the face of the member 24, and over the lip 23, where it is held in nonwedging position, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the assembly is free to travel in the weather strip channel 11.

It is believed that the operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An anchor for a removable sash balancer spring positioned in the channel of a window weather strip, com prising the combination of a roller and a body member having an inverted V shaped portion and a straight portion, said V shaped portion having a cut out therein for receiving a hook formed on said spring and the end of a bracket carried on said sash, said straight portion having an extension bent at an angle with respect to the back wall of said weather strip so as to form a wedging angle for said roller, said extension having a lip at the free end and being inclined toward the back wall of said weather strip for holding said roller out of wedging position when the weight of the sash is on the body.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which the bracket on said sash has a V shaped portion adapted to be received in the cut out of said body and is arranged to exert downward pressure on said body and to hold said roller on said lip and out of wedging position.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which the straight portion of said body abuts the front wall of said weather strip when said roller is in wedging position.

4. The structure of claim 1, in which the lower end of said body at said extension contacts the rear wall of said weather strip, and the upper end of said straight portion of said body contacts the front wall of said weather strip, when said roller is out of wedging position.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner. I. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ANCHOR FOR A REMOVABLE SASH BALANCER SPRING POSITIONED IN THE CHANNEL OF A WINDOW WEATHER STRIP, COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A ROLLER AND A BODY MEMBER HAVING AN INVERTED V SHAPED PORTION AND A STRAIGHT PORTION, SAID V SHAPED PORTION HAVING A CUT OUT THEREIN FOR RECEIVING A HOOK FORMED ON SAID SPRING AND THE END OF A BRACKET CARRIED ON SAID SASH, SAID STRAIGHT PORTION HAVING AN EXTENSION BENT AT AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE BACK WALL OF SAID WEATHER STRIP SO AS TO FORM A WEDGING ANGLE FOR SAID ROLLER, SAID EXTENSION HAVING A LIP AT THE FREE END 